Steam applicator



Nov. 13, 1951 R. J. WILLIAMS ErAL STEAM APPLICATOR Filed June 11, 1947 INVENTORJ EM aw ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1951 STEAM APPLICATOR Robert J. Williams, Hackensack, N. J., and August 0.. Finalborgo, New York, N. Y., assignors to Sun Chemical Corporation, New York, N. Y., av corporation of Delaware Application June 11, 1947, Serial No. 753,842

6 Claims.

invention relates to apparatus for efiecting the setting. of steam set printing inks.

Inks which set. upon the application to the imprinted ink film of water, either in the form of water vapor or steam, are generally designated as: moisture or steam set inks. Such inks ordinarily contain as a vehicle a mixture of a liquid component and a solid binder component dissolved or dispersed. in the liquid component. The solid component, while compatible with the liquid component of the ink material, is incompatible in a mixture of the liquid component and a suificient quantity oi water. Thus when an imprinted film containing suchvehicle is treated with a sufficient quantity of. Water as water vapor or steam, the solid binder component separates and becomes afiixed to the base on which it is imprinted, thus effecting a setting of the ink material.

It is: an object of the present invention to provide' for effectively and economically accomplishing the-setting of an imprinted ink film of the steam set type to non ofisetting and non-smudging conditions. a

Another objectis to provide apparatus whereby high-speed perfecting printing operations upon a web material with steam set inks can be secured and in which adequately complete register is obtained.

It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus whereby a base material imprinted with such steam set inks can be effectively exposed to a uniform atmosphere of water in quantity suflicient to effect setting of the. ink film without deleteriously afiecting the imprinted base.

Aiurther object is to provide apparatus where by setting of animprinted film of steam set ink on paper or like base can be accomplished eiiectively while maintaining the water content of such base material within predetermined limits such that no objectionable warping or curl is imparted to the base materials.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In the drawing, in which like characters of ref erence designate like parts throughout- Fig; 1 is adiagrammatic view illustrating the use of the apparatus of the invention in combination with a printing unit;

Fig. 2 is atop view of steam applying apparatus constructedin accordance with-the invention;

'Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on theline'3'3 of Fig. 2;

a Fig. 4 ;is a view inside elevation of the vappa ratusshown in Fig. 2 with the housing removed, and also showing the steam intake system to the steam applying apparatus; 7

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub.-

stantially on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged detail views, illustrating the operation of a nozzle used in=conjunction with the apparatus. shown. in Figs. 2 to 5, Figs. 6 and '7 being taken approximately at right angles to each other.

In the so-called perfecting process. of printing, a web of paper or other base material is: imprinted consecutively on both sides, so that after printing there is delivered from the printing press a web ofpaper or base material carrying the desired imprinted material on both sides thereof. Such process in printing is highly important in high speed production of magazines and' other publ-i cations where a high rate of production is required, and'where it is desired to' out, fold and bind the imprinted base material as soon as-possible after the printing operation. In such printing operations, a cutting and folding mechanism is associated with the printing mechanism, so that immediately after the printing operation the web of imprinted material can be cut and folded and delivered as signatures, ready for trimming and binding.

The present invention provides effective appara'tus for securing such perfected printing by' the use of so-called steam set inks. In accordance with the invention there is secured, after imprinting upon the first side in a perfecting printing operation, a sheet of imprinted material sufliciently well set so that there is substantially no smudging or ofisetting during the imprinting'oi' the second or reverse side of the web. Furthermore, the web of imprinted material can be satisfactorily set after the final printing operationso that there is delivered to the folding and cutting mechanism a web of base material which-will not be marred or smudged during the operations necessary to effect folding and cutting.

Also, in the case where the imprinted web delivered, immediately after printing, to a cutting and folding mechanism for manufacture into signatures of cut and folded pages, paper or like webs imprinted with moisture set inks and treated inaccordance with andby the use Ofthe-apparatus of the present invention have a sufiiciently low content of added water such that they can be satisfactorily handled in such cutting and folding operations without danger of catching or jamming'in such mechanism because ofwarp',

curl or stretch imparted to the paper or like imprinted base.

For satisfactory perfecting printing operations of the high quality desired in magazine and publication work, it is required that the imprint upon the second side printing be in substantially complete register with the imprinting upon the first side so that upon completion of the printing operation the printed material comprising the pages on opposite sides of the web will be in substantially exact juxtaposition, so that upon cutting and folding, the printed job will have the desired margins to give the desired high quality appearance. In normal printing operations the print ing plates are placed upon the plate cylinders for both first and second side printing in such relation that accurate register as described will be secured. And in addition, the Web which is being pulled through the press in a printing operation is maintained under proper tension, as by adjustment of angle bars, such that normally satisfac- 'tory-register is obtained. However, if the web should be warped or stretched out of its normal dimensions between the time it passes through the first-side printing unit and before it reaches the second-side printing unit, the effect of such proper positioning of plates upon the plate cylinder and setting of angle bars to secure desired tension will be nullified, and lack of register on second-side printing results.

.' The present invention provides apparatus of such construction that the physical state and the yolume of water brought into contact with the imprinted web after the first side printing are controlled within the limits necessary to secure satisfactory setting of the imprinted ink film to non-ofisetting, non-smudging conditions while preventing objectionable warping, curling and stretching of the imprinted base, and the imprinted base web can be maintained under the predetermined tension necessary to secure satisfactory'register with plates properly positioned pn the plate cylinders of both first-side and second-side printing units.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and referring first to Fig. 1, a web In of paper or the like is shown as passing through a rotary printing press including a plate cylinder II and an impression cylinder I 2 and thence over a steam applying unit l3 to a chilling roll I4. From the latter, the web is guided between a second plate cylinder l5 and impression cylinder IE to imprint the second side thereof, and the web then passes over a second steam applying unit I! to a second chilling roll l8. Thereafter the imprinted and set web may pass to a rewind roll or to a cutting and folding mechanism as may be desired.

The other figures in the drawing illustrate in detail-steam appplying apparatus in accordance with the invention and corresponding to steam applying units l3 and I! in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4, the main steam intake pipe 20 is adapted for connection with a suitable source of steam under pressure, not shown, and is provided with a shut-off valve 2!, strainer unit 22 and pressure gauge. 23. In order to regulate the steam pressure in accordance withthe desired operating conditions, there is provided a regulating valve indicated generally at 25, and a second gauge 26 serves to indicate the steam pressure as determined by adjustment of the valve 25. The pipe 21 leads from pipe 20 to a suitable trap 28 for removing condensed vapor. Valve 3.0.controls direct flow of steam. 9 h

steam applying portion of the system, and it may advantageously be solenoid-operated and connected electrically with the starting motor of the printing press in such manner that steam will be permitted to flow through the valve only when the printing unit is in operation.

From the valve 30, steam isconducte'd through a connection 35, shown as a flexible hose member, and coupling 36 to a pipe 40 which serves as a container or header from which the steam is discharged into contact with the printing web. As shown, there are two of these pipes 40, and accordingly there are two connecting hoses which are joined to pipe 29 by means such as the Y-coupling M. The end of each pipe 43 opposite coupling 36 is connected through pipe 42 with a suitable trap 43, which is in turn connected with a suitable drain as indicated at 44.

' Each pipe 40 is provided along one side with a multiplicity of substantially uniformly spaced nozzles 5!) adapted to serve as outlets'to discharge steam upwardly from pipe 40. These nozzles are spaced relatively closely together, as shownfinorder to insure adequate distribution of the spray of steam axially along the pipe and hence lateral 1y across the imprinted web in use. Also, these nozzles are selected according to their capacities and the total number of nozzles is so determined that their total capacity is less than the intake capacity of pipe 43 at the supply pressure, in order to maintain the steam within each pipe 40 under sufficient positive pressure to insure'uniform spray discharge through each nozzle.

The construction of a type of nozzle found satisfactory for use in the invention is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 5 to '7. As shown, each nozzle consists of a threaded portion 5| by means of which it may be attached to pipe 40, being tightened in place by a suitable tool applied to the nut-like portion 52 adjacent threaded portion 5|. At the end opposite the threaded portion, each nozzle has a generally cylindrical portion 53 which is cut away at 54 to form a shoulder 55 curved outwardly with respect to the central axis of the nozzle.

- In use, fluid entering the nozzle through the passage 56 at the threaded end 5| strikes the shoulder 55 and is caused to spread in a fan-like pattern as indicated at 5'! in Fig. 6, the spray angle as viewed in Fig. 6 varying in accordance with the fluid pressure and capacity of the nozzle. One nozzle of this type found satisfactory for use in the present invention has a passage 56 of a diameter of /64" and possesses the following capacity characteristics in gallons per minute at the pressure indicated in pounds per square inch:

Pressure Capacity Spray Angle 2"!"999999 moccqcaonau \n-n owm OabAWkOi-H- OI OOOOUIOKI With nozzles of the above construction and capacity characteristics, and with each pipe 46 of .75 inch internal diameter, satisfactory uni-' form distribution of spray has been obtained with nozzles 50 mounted. along the pipe at intervals such that the centers of adjacent nozzles are'1.'75 inches apart. This arrangement -provides;for overlapping of the spray patterns of adjacent nozzles, as indicated at 58 in Fig. 4, to give the desired moisture distribution across the width of an imprinted web when the apparatus is used as indicated-in Fig. 1.

' The invention also provides for maintaining the temperature of the steam as dischargedthrough the nozzles substantially above the condensation temperature in order to avoid drops or droplets in the stream of vapor. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, each pipe 40 has mounted therein an. immersion heater 60, which is connected through junction box 61' and wires 62 to a suitable thermo-. stat 63 having the usual manual adjustment 0011', trol knob 64' and connected at 65 to a source of electric power. This thermostat functions to regulate the flow of current to heater Sit in accordance with the setting of its control 64. The twojunction boxes 6!, one for the heater in each of pipes, are also shown as connected together at 66 for uniform energizing of both heaters 68.

In operation, the thermostat 63 will be adj'usted to provide for suflicient energizing of heaters 60 to maintain the temperature ofthe steam as discharged through nozzles 50 above the. condensation temperature, for example within a. range of 240 to 250 F; In order to provide for automatic actuation of thermostat B3, a'suit} able. temperature sensitive element 10 is positioned directly in the path of the spray discharged from nozzles 50 and is connected through; wires 'H to the thermostat. 63; As shown particularly in Figs. 2: and 5, the temperature sensitiveelement T0 is mounted by means of brackets: 12 directly in the path, of the steam spray discharged by a. plurality of. nozzles 50' and closely adjacent the, plane of the nozzles, for example at a distance of. the. order of. 1". In this. manner,. and with the thermostat adjusted to the range stated. whenthe temperature of the steam. issuing from nozzles: 50 and striking the temperature sensitive element (it falls below the desired. range, the thermostat will operate to energize the heaters 60 andto raise the temperature of. the steam within each pipe until the temperature of thesteam striking the temperature sensitive element. reaches the predetermined maximum, at which point the how of current to the heaters will be discontinued until the steam temperature again falls below the desired lower limit.

Means are also provided for exhausting the used steam to prevent it from ,collecting' in the pressroom and on the. press.v Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the portions of pipes 46 provided with nozzles are enclosed within a box-like housing 15 which 'is open on its side facing the discharge apertures of the nozzles. This housing is formed at either side toprovide exhaust ducts 16 and 71 each communicating with the interior of the housing, through slots 18 extending substantially the length of the housing. One of these ducts, for example the duct 11, is fitted at 80- for attachment to; a suitable source of suctiomnot shown, and the two ducts are interconnected by a conduit 8| connecting with duct 11 adjacent its outlet 80'. This provides for adequate exhaust by means of asingle motor, and, if desired, a suitable damper may be providedfin duct 17 to balance and control the suction in both ducts.

The above apparatus provides for securing: a

uniform; flow, at subsiratntiall'yv dry steam; relatively small volume over the desired area across the length of the pipes 40. In use, each unit constructed as shown and described maybe positioned with nozzles 50 and the open side of hous- 6' ing'. 15- facing either upwardly, downwardly or vertically or at any other angle convenient for effective operation with the particular press: with which it is used and the space available fonit. The positioning of the unit should be such that the-imprinted surface of the web passes. the nozzles 50 immediately after the printing operation and at a distance from the nozzles of the order of I to 2 inches and at a suitable speed such as 1500 linear feet perminute.

.Under these conditions in operation, steam at a relatively low pressure, for example five pounds is conducted through pipe 20 and through the subsequent reducing valve and inlet valve to the pipes 40. Sufficient heat is supplied, as described, by means of' immersion heaters to maintain the steam within pipes 40 superheated at a tempera ture substantially above its condensation point, and by having the total capacity of the nozzles relatively lower than the intake capacity of the pipes"; there is a pressure gradient in pipes 40 such thatthe steam therein is under considerable pressure, and a substantially uniform flow of steam through all of the nozzles and into contactwith the moving imprinted web is obtained, This steam is sufficient to cause efiective setting of the ink material on the web, but since it is at a' temperature substantially above its condensation point, the total volume of liquid which impinges on the imprinted surface is readily maintained within the limits necessary for satis-'- factory setting of the imprinted ink film to nonofisetting and non-smudging conditions without curling, warping or stretching of the base material of the web. At the same time, the exhaust system provides for efiective removal of the steam after use and thus prevents its escape at parts of the press which might be objectionably affected thereby and its collection in the pressroom. o

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothis precise form of apparatus, and that" changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l". Fluid spraying apparatus of the character described foruse in the printing of steam set inks and comprising, in combination, a container for fluid: which is a liquid under atmospheric conditions, spray'o'utlets for said container, inlet means for said container adapted for connection to a source offluid under pressure and in a vapor state; heating means for said. fluid positioned within, saidv container, and temperature sensitive means positioned in the path of the fluid sprays discharged from. said outlets, and a thermostat ,op ratively connecting said temperature sensitive means with said heating means for maintaining the temperature of the fluid discharged in a continuous flow by said outlets above that required to maintain the sprays in a vapor state and substantially treeof condensed drops of liquid.

2. Fluid. spraying apparatus of the character described for use. in. the printing of steamset inks comprising, in. combination, a container for fluid which is; a, liquid under atmospheric con.- dition-sl, a. plurality of spaced discharge: outlets for: said container of substantially uniform capacity for discharging fluid sprays therefrom, inlet means for said container adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and in a vapor state, the capacity of said inlet means aczgeqo being greater than the total capacity ofsaid discharge outlets providing for maintaining fluid within said container under positive pressure'to maintain substantially uniform the volume of fluid discharged by each of said outlets per unit time, heating means for said fluid within said container, and temperature sensitive means positioned in the path of said fluid sprays discharged by said outlets, and a thermostat operatively connecting said temperature sensitive means with said heating means for maintaining the temperature of the fluid discharged ina continuous flow by said outlets above that required to maintain said sprays in a vapor state and substantially free of condensed drops of liquid.

3. Fluid spraying apparatus of the character described for use in the printing of steam set inks and comprising, in combination, a container for fluid which is a liquid under atmospheric conditions, a plurality of discharge outlets for said container for discharging fluid sprays there from, inlet means for said container adapted for connection to a source of steam under pressure, heating means positioned within said container, and temperature sensitive means positioned in the path of the fluid sprays discharged by said outlets, and a thermostat operatively connecting said temperature sensitive means with said heat: ing means, said temperature sensitive means being effective to actuate said heating means when the temperature of the fluid sprays discharged by said outlets is less than a range sub stantially higher than the condensation tem-pera ture of steam providing for maintaining the steam discharged in a continuous flow by said outlets substantially superheated and free of drops of liquid.

4. Fluid spraying apparatus of the character described for use in the printing of steam set inks and comprising, in combination, a container for fluid which is a liquid under atmospheric conditions, a plurality of discharge nozzles mounted along said container in spaced relation, each said nozzle including means directing fluid discharged therefrom into a fan-like spray, inlet means for said container adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure andin a vapor state, the capacity of said inlet meansbeing greater than the total capacity of said nozzles providing for maintaining fluid within saidcontainer under positive pressure to maintain substantially uniform the volume of fluid discharged by each said nozzle per unit time, heating means positioned within said container, temperature sensitive means outside said container positioned adjacent one of said nozzles and in the path of the fluid spray discharged thereby, and a thermostat operatively connecting said temperature sensitive means with said heating mean-s for maintaining the temperature of the fluid sprays discharged in a continuous flow by said nozzles within a predetermined range.

5. Fluid spraying apparatus of the character described for use in the printing of steam set inks and comprising, in combination, a container for fluid which is a liquid under atmospheric conditions, a plurality of discharge nozzles mounted along said container in spaced relation, each said nozzle including means directing fluid discharged therefrom into a fan-like spray, inlet means for said container adapted for connection to a source of steam under pressure, the capacity 8 of said'inlet means being greater than the total capacity of said nozzles providing for maintaining fluid within said container under positive pressure to maintain substantially uniform the volume of fluid discharged by each said nozzle per unit time, heating means positioned within said container, and temperature sensitive means outside said container positioned adjacent one of said nozzles and in the path of the fluid spray discharged thereby, and a thermostat operatively connecting said temperature sensitive means with said heating means and being eifective to actuate said heating means to raise the temperature of fluid within said container when the temperatureof the fluid spray discharged by said nozzles falls below a predetermined range substantially above the condensation temperature of steam providing for the discharge in a continuous flow from all said nozzles of substantially uniformly dry steam.

6. Fluid spraying apparatus of the character described for use in the printing of steam set inks and comprising, in combination, a container for fluid, a plurality of discharge nozzles mounted along said container in spaced relation and positioned with their discharge apertures facing in the same direction, inlet means for said container adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, the capacity of said inlet means being greater than the total capacity of said nozzles providing for maintaining fluid within said container under positive pressure to maintain substantally uniform the volume of fluid discharged by each said nozzle per unit time, heating means within said container for maintaining the temperature of said fluid sprays discharged in a continuous flow by said outlets such that said fluid in said sprays remain in a vapor state, a housing for said container open on its side facing said discharge apertures of said nozzles, exhaust ducts positioned in said housing on either side of said container, means providing intake apertures for said exhaust ducts substantially parallel with said container, one of said ducts having an outlet adapted for connection to a source of suction, and conduit means interconnecting said ducts to provide for applying suction thereto from a single source of suction.

ROBERT J WILLIAMS. AUGUST C. FINALBORGO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Date 

6. FLUID SPRAYING APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR USE IN THE PRINTING OF STEAM SET INKS AND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATUON, A CONTAINER FOR FLUID, A PLURALITY OF DISCHARGE NOZZLES MOUNTED ALONG SAID CONTAINER IN SPACED RELATION AND POSITIONED WITH THEIR DISCHARGE APERTURES FACING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, INLET MEANS FOR SAID CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, THE CAPACITY OF SAID INLET MEANS BEING GREATER THAN THE TOTAL CAPACITY OF SAID NOZZLES PROVIDING FOR MAINTAINING FLUID WITHIN SAID CONTAINER UNDER POSITIVE PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THE VOLUME OF FLUID DISCHARGED BY EACH SAID NOZZLE PER UNIT TIME, HEATING MEANS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER FOR MAINTANING THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FLUID SPRAYS DISCHARGED IN A CONTINUOUS FLOW BY SAID OUTLETS SUCH THAT SAID FLUID IN SAID SPRAYS REMAIN IN A VAPOR STATE, A HOUSING 